Unit History

Auburn University and Detachment 005 have a
long and storied history. The University was established in 1856 as the
East Alabama Male College, 20 years after the founding of the City of Auburn.
The Reverend William J. Sasnett was the first president of the
institution. The university was closed during the Civil War,
in 1861, and was re-opened in 1866.

In 1872, under the Morrill Act, Auburn became the first land-grant college
in the South and was renamed the Agricultural and Mechanical College of
Alabama. In 1899 the name was changed again to Alabama Polytechnic
Institute (API). The curriculum at Alabama A&M originally focused on arts
and agriculture. This trend changed under the guidance of Dr. William Leroy
Broun, who taught classics and sciences. Dr. Broun believed that both disciplines were important in
education. Auburn's official title was changed to Alabama Polytechnic
Institute largely because of Dr. Broun's beliefs in placing a scientific
emphasis on the liberal arts tradition.

Though its roots lay in early military colleges, the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) was intitutionalized in
1916 with the passage of the National Defense Act; it was charged to increase
preparedness prior to the American entry into World War I.
One of the provisions of this act was the creation of a Reserve Officer
Training Corps in colleges and universities across the nation. During
WWII, API trained U.S. military personnel on campus. Between 1941 and 1945,
the API Cadet Corps produced hundreds of officers for the war effort. Following the end of
World War II, API, like many universities around the country, experienced a period
of massive growth caused by returning military personnel taking advantage of
their GI Bill. In the five-year period following the
end of the war, enrollment at API more than doubled.

The API expansion continued, and in 1960 the name of the school was changed
to Auburn University, which was more in keeping with its location and
expressed the varied academic programs and larger curriculum of a major
university. Today, Auburn University is one of the largest universities in the
South and remains at the forefront of education with our emphasis on a blend of
arts and applied sciences. The University continuously changes to accommodate
today's needs, while still respecting the traditions and spirit of
Auburn. As we grow and change, Auburn will always continue its tradition
of excellence.

Detachment 005 also has a proud heritage. Several influential Air
Force leaders are Auburn University alumni including: Major General
Gerald Prather (class of 1956) who served as Commander of the Air Force
Communications Command, General Jimmy Adams (class of 1957) who served as
Commander in Chief, Pacific Air Forces, Major General Theodore Mallory III
(class of 1965) who served as Air National Guard Assistant to the Commander,
Air Education and Training Command, Lt General Leslie Kenne (class of 1971) who
served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Warfighting Integration at HQ USAF,
and Major General James Stewart (class of 1977) who is presently serving as
Military Executive Officer, Reserve Forces Policy Board for the Office of the
Secretary of Defense; finally, AFROTC Det 005 is also proud of Lt Col Ronald
Mumm, who served as Commander/Leader of the USAF's elite Air Demonstration
Squadron, The Air Force Thunderbirds, from 1996-1997.

Auburn University AFROTC Detachment 005 is also a recognized leader
amongst AFROTC programs. The detachment has been recognized by the HQ
AFROTC South East Region as the 2011 Large Unit High Flight Winner, the Air
Force Association (Chapter 102) as the Nancy Zehrer Memorial Award to an
Outstanding AFROTC Detachment for nine consecutive years, and the AFROTC Gama
Cup Champions for three consecutive years.